Public Affairs

2025 Bills to Watch

• SB 929
  Oregon Coast Trail
  The Act would give money to the SPRD to work on the Oregon Coast Trail. (Flesch Readability Score: 84.4). Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the State Parks and Recreation Department for planning and coordination to continue to develop, maintain or work toward completion of the Oregon Coast Trail. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
• SB 453
  TLT Allocation Changes – Study
  The Act would require a study of the split that local transient lodging tax districts are allowed for the use of their revenues. A report will be submitted by September 15 of next year. (Flesch Readability Score: 67.6). Requires the Legislative Revenue Officer to study the 70 percent-30 percent division between the permissible uses of new and increased local transient lodging tax revenues. Directs the officer to submit a report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to revenue no later than September 15, 2026.
• Senate Bill 457
  Study Using TLT Funds for Public Safety as Tourism Infrastructure
  Senate Bill 457 mandates the Legislative Revenue Officer to study the current 70%-30% division between permissible uses of new and increased local TLT revenues. Potential outcomes of this session could result in adjustments to TLT structures and allocations that could impact funding for tourism promotion and infrastructure. More info on these specifics coming soon! For now, check out our article on Debunking Myths about Oregon’s Transient Lodging Tax.
• TLT-Funded Ocean Beach Fund
  Senate Bill 358
  Creates the Ocean Beach Fund using a portion of the state’s lodging tax. One percent of the tax collected from overnight stays at state recreation areas along the ocean shore will go into this fund. The State Parks and Recreation Department will use the money to help maintain and manage these coastal recreation areas.
• Senate Bill 434
  TLT-Funded Ocean Beach Fund (2)
  Creates the Ocean Beach Fund using a portion of the state lodging tax. One percent of the tax collected from overnight stays at coastal state parks will go into this fund. The State Parks and Recreation Department will use the money to maintain and manage these areas, ensuring they remain well-kept and accessible for visitors, which could enhance tourism and outdoor recreation.
• SB 179
  Making Current Recreational Immunity Law Permanent
  This Act makes permanent changes to the laws that shield landowners from lawsuits from visitors. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.8). Makes permanent the temporary changes made to the landowner immunity laws by chapter 64, Oregon Laws 2024.
• House Bill 2295
  Recreational Immunity
  This Act amends laws shielding land owners from lawsuits by outdoor visitors and amends landowner immunity provisions to focus on the activities and outdoor location of injured users and not the users’ intended purposesThis comes in response to the recreational immunity issue brought to the forefront by a court case involving the City of Newport. This bill, regarding recreational immunity, expands the definition and list of activities that fall under recreational immunity and ensures that cities, counties, special government districts, etc., fall under this concept, which exempts them from lawsuits when they make lands available for recreational uses. While this is only a temporary fix, it will keep trails open this summer.

  In 2024, a work group convened to create long-term fixes to recreational immunity going forward. OCVA will be continuing to participate in that discussion throughout the 2025 legislative session.

• House Bill 3140
  Recreation liability and release from negligence
  The Act says that an operator can make a person who does recreation release the operator from some types of claims, and tells OBDD to study issues for the recreation industry and make a report. An operator may require a person who engages in a sport, fitness or recreational activity in various ways to release the operator from claims for ordinary negligence.Directs the Oregon Business Development Department, with the assistance of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, to study issues facing the recreation industry and report to a committee of the Legislative Assembly related to the environment no later than September 15, 2026. Appropriates moneys for study.

  This comes in response to the recreational immunity issue brought to the forefront by a court case involving the City of Newport. This bill, regarding recreational immunity, expands the definition and list of activities that fall under recreational immunity and ensures that cities, counties, special government districts, etc., fall under this concept, which exempts them from lawsuits when they make lands available for recreational uses. While this is only a temporary fix, it will keep trails open this summer.

  In 2024, a work group convened to create long-term fixes to recreational immunity going forward. OCVA will be continuing to participate in that discussion throughout the 2025 legislative session.

• Senate Bill 470
  Recordings of Visitors at Lodging Establishments
  Prohibits a transient lodging provider and a transient lodging intermediary from making, storing, transmitting or transferring an audio or video recording of an occupant of transient lodging in any space within the transient lodging in which the occupant has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Punishes violation of the Act as an unlawful practice under the Unlawful Trade Practices Act.
• House Bill 2137
  Eliminates day-use parking fees in state parks for OR registered vehicles
  Establishes the Oregon Parks for All Subaccount within the Parks Donation Trust Fund. Allows Oregon residents to voluntarily donate money when registering their vehicles, which will be used to provide free state park access for residents and support park maintenance. Removes the requirement for Oregon-registered vehicles to purchase day-use parking passes at state parks. Requires the State Parks and Recreation Department to report on the program’s progress to the Legislature by October 1, 2026.
• House Bill 2171
  Fairgrounds lodging tax exemption
  Provides an exemption from the state transient lodging tax for a camping site on a county fairgrounds that has not more than 50 camping sites with both direct electrical hookups and individual sewer hookups.
• House Bill 2194
  OR Hotel Anti-human-trafficking training
  Creates an income tax credit for providing employees of hotels and inns human trafficking awareness training. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2033.
• House Bill 3100
  Lottery funds Business Oregon for crafting a trade strategy
  The Act directs lottery funds to Business Oregon to create a statewide trade strategy. The Oregon Business Development Department will work with the Port of Portland, the Oregon Tourism Commission, the State Department of Agriculture, and other key stakeholders to develop a unified plan that supports Oregon’s economy, industries, and global trade opportunities.
• HB 3325
  Changing TLT Percentages in Tourism Dependent Counties
  The Act would let tax districts in counties with high tourist counts use a certain percent of net lodging taxes for essential services. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.1). Provides that taxing districts within counties with high averaged annual ratios of tourists to residents may expend a certain percentage of net transient lodging taxes for essential services that benefit both residents and tourists. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
• Senate Bill 338
  Marine Zones
  Requires the Governor to certify to the United States Secretary of Commerce that the designation of a national marine sanctuary located within the seaward boundary of Oregon is unacceptable unless the Legislative Assembly confirms the designation.
• House Bill 2773
  Grants for recreational fishing facilities
  The Act tells an agency to create a program for fishing in certain areas. The Act ends the program on January 2, 2028. Directs the State Department of Fish and Wildlife to establish a program to award grants for recreational fishing facilities within an urban growth boundary. Sunsets the program on January 2, 2028.
• House Bill 2979
  Appropriates moneys to various entities for food production and distribution
  The Act gives money to DAS to give to groups to help produce and distribute food. Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services for distribution to various entities for food production and distribution.
• Senate Bill 208
  Seaweed Production Study
  Directs the State Department of Agriculture, in partnership with Oregon State University, to study the potential for developing commercial seaweed production for certain purposes. Directs the department to report on the study on or before September 15, 2027. Appropriates moneys to Oregon State University, out of the General Fund, for the study.
• Senate Bill 363
  Meat Processing Businesses
  Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the State Department of Agriculture to fund a grant program related to establishments that process and sell meat products.
• Senate Bill 752
  Statewide Economic Development Plan
  Requires the Oregon Business Development Department to review statewide economic development plans and strategies implemented in the other states and submit a report to the Legislative Assembly that includes recommendations for the creation of a statewide economic development plan for Oregon.